by Father McEnroe Lopes
MUMBAI, DEC 20, 2018: One hundred and fifty-six youth from the Mumbai region of the Salesian Youth Movement celebrated its annual festival, SYMBIOS based on the theme Youth, Encounter, Service (#YES) on December 13.
The inaugural address was given by a team from #SaferRoadsOrlem campaign and focused on spreading awareness on mishaps that happen due to driving on the wrong side of roads.
The #SaferRoadsOrlem campaign began on October 7, 2018, to spread awareness about road mishaps that have taken place in Orlem, Malad. Every evening residents of Orlem come out on the road from 7.00 pm - 9.00pm with awareness banners.
The aim is to prevent all especially bikers from riding on the wrong side of the road. This has now become a movement of citizens coming together to stand up and fight for a cause. Moira Fernandes and Neel Patel addressed the youth about the issue.
Workshops were then conducted by Father Ashley Miranda, Father Mylin Noronha, and Blue Ribbon movement. Father Miranda’s session focused on youth, ethics, and morality. During the session, he stressed on different moral issues the youth have to deal with and a moral response that one needs to give.
Father Noronha then spoke about different types of people that youth come in contact with and appropriate responses. Blue Ribbon movement held sessions on service that promotes youth activists.
Harold D’Costa, a cybersecurity expert, who assists the Maharashtra and Goa police in solving cyber crimes, then made participants aware of the dangers of being on social media. He highlighted the precautions that must be taken and shared his experience of working in this field for the last 15 years. The youth put up presentations to enhance the theme on the topics, #YES to Family, #YES to Environment & #Yes to Spirituality. The day ended with telegames and moving to the beat of Zumba for the youth.